Bus conductor in Belagavi gets assaulted; 4 get arrested

Four people were arrested for assaulting the bus conductor over a language dispute in Belagavi.

In a shocking incident over a Marathi language dispute, a bus conductor was assaulted by four people in Belagavi. As per authorities, the accused people are now taken into custody for reportedly attacking a conductor of a state-owned transport corporation bus for failing to respond to a Marathi passenger.

Bus conductor assaulted for not responding in Marathi.

Four persons were arrested for allegedly assaulting a conductor of the state-owned transport corporation bus for not responding in the Marathi language, said the police on Saturday. They said the incident occurred on Friday on the outskirts of the district headquarters town of Belagavi bordering Maharashtra.

The bus conductor shared what happened.

The police also said the police also said the conductor has been booked under the POCSO act. The 51-year-old bus conductor, Mahadevappa Mallappa Hukkeri, had tears in his eyes when he spoke about the incident to reporters. He said that a girl boarded the bus with her male friend at Sulebhavi village and spoke in Marathi. He told her that he didn’t know Marathi and asked her to speak in Kannada. He said, “When I said I don’t know Marathi, the girl abused me, saying that I must learn Marathi. Suddenly, a large number of people gathered and assaulted me on my head and all over the body.”

The police have arrested the four accused in the case.

The bus conductor was injured and was admitted to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences, said the police, adding that he had minor injuries and was out of danger. He said, “A case was registered, and we have arrested four people in connection with the assault on the conductor and based on a counter complaint lodged by the girl, who is 14-year-old, a case was registered against the conductor under Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly using derogatory remarks against her.” A senior police officer added, “No arrest has been made yet in connection with the POCSO Act case. We need to investigate and look into the allegations, and accordingly, further action will be taken.”

Belagavi Police Commissioner said that the four accused have been arrested in connection with the assault on the conductor.